Wire stretcher



Feb. 21, 1928.

' J. T. JENSEN WIRE STRETCHER Filed April 25. 1927 Patented Feb. 21, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JENS T. JENSEN, OF WESTBROOK, MAINE.

WIRE srnnrcnnn.

Application filed April 25, 1927; Serial No. 186,218.

This invention relates to a wire fence tightening device.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a tool which may be applied so that any slackness or looseness may be taken up.

One of the objections and difficulties experienced with wire fences, particularly where there are long runs of the wire be tween posts, and where the wlre has become posts and toeffectively take up any slack or loosencss in the wire by turning the tool. A further object is to provide a wire tightening device that may be applied to a plurality of wires so that one ormore wires may simultaneously be tightened.

A further object is to provide a wire tightening device having an adjustable han;

dlewhich may be movable laterally of the main body of the tool, or which may be rotated while laterally disposed, a catch or securing member being provided on the handle, the catch being so arranged as to cooperate with the wire after it has been tightened sufficiently to retain the wire tightening tool in position.

A further object is to provide in a wire tightening device, a construction employing a catchwhereby the fastener or catch may be adjust-ably supported so that a catch may be either temporarily or permanently fixed to the wire at different distances from the main body of the tool.

A further object is to provide in a wire tightening. tool, a means for securely fastening the wire to the tool before starting to tighten the wire.

For purposes of illustration, one preferred form and certain modifications of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the wire tightening tool.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, showing the clamp for securing the wire to the tool. I

Fig. 3 a perspective showing the wire tightening (IQ-VICE in use, and also shows, by the dot-ted line position of the handle, how the handle is adlustable laterally oft-he tool body so that the catch may be fixed to the wlre at variable distances from the body of the tool. p i" i Fig. 4 is another perspective view showing the tool in use.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the wire tighteningtool applied to a wire fence and tightening a plurality of-the strands of the wire extending between fence posts.

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of means for initially securing the .wire to the tool be fore tightening the latter.

The wire tightening tool, as shown, includes a main body portion or post 1 shown as a metallic tube, but. it is understood that other suitable .materialgand forms may be used. In order to secure a wire .2 or other member to be stretched to the body 1 of the tool, variousmeans :may be employed, preferably. .a U-shaped fastener 3 is pro-. .-vided having one leg 4 longer than the other. The longer leg extends through the post so that the end thereof projects on the opposite side. In order to position the wire under the wire fastener 3, the wire retaining member of fastener 3 is withdrawn to a position indicated by the dotted line position in Fig. 2 until the shorter leg of the fastener 3 is clear of the body 1 after which the wire 2 is slipped over the fastener and the fastener is driven into the post. If desired, the projecting end of the longer leg 4 may be riveted over in order to permanently hold the wire in position. If desired to take up the slack in a'second wire by the same tool, an angularly disposed slot 5 may be formed in the body 1 of the tool and the second wire may he slipped into the slot 5.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the angularly disposed slot extends downwardly and inwardly from the periphery of the post and is adapted to receive a wire below the U-shaped wire retaining member above referred to. Of course,-it is understood that a plurality of slots may be provided for a corresponding greater number of wires and the slots may be arranged in various relations to obtain any spreading action of the wires as well as a tightening action.

In order to rotate the body of the tool after the wires have been positioned therein, a means is provided for conveniently tnrning the tool and also for retaining the tool in position after the slack has been taken-11p and the wire has been stretched the desired amount.

As shown, a handle 6 is provided at one end of the post 1 and is adapted to be adjustable transversely of the body so that a varying leverage may be obtained in tightening the wire. At one end of the handle, there is provided .a hook or catch 7. One end of the catch 7 is secured to the handle 6, the other end 8 being bent in the form of a hook and is adapted to slip over the wire after the wire has been properly stretched thus holding the wire tightening tool in proper position to prevent unwinding of the tool and the release of the tension created in the wire. Figs. 3 and a clearly show the relative position of the securing hook 7 on the wire 2 in order to retain the tool in proper position. If desired, the hook por tion 8 of the fastener may be closed so as to prevent the accidental release of the wire. The dotted line position of the handle and hook in Fig. 3 indicates the manner in which the hook may be moved to different disis passed through the post 1 so that the ends of the pin extend beyond the body of the post and the wire is initially looped about the pin before tightening the wire.

lVhile one preferred form and certain modifications of the invention have herein been shown, various modifications and changes may be made wlthout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wire tightening tool, comprising a body post, means for initially securing a wire to the post, said means including a U- a shaped fastener having one leg longer than the other, said longer leg adapted .to :pro-

ject beyond the opposite side of the post-,-

ing a U-shaped member, a'second means for receiving a second wire in the "body post,

said second means including a slot angularly disposed, a handle at one end of the post extending transversely thereof, said handle being rotatably supported in said post, and a fastening means at one end of the handle, adapted to cooperate with the wire after the tool has been rotated to stretch the wires the desired amount. 7

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

J ENS T. JENSEN. 

